Lands Issue Stern Warning

The Commissioner of Lands has issued a stern warning to people owing government in land rentals to pay up or risk losing their land titles.

Land title holders who bought land from the government have owed government $24 million dollars in unpaid land rentals over the years.

Commissioner Silva Dunge issued the warning as the ministry releases the list of land rental arrears today.

The Ministry of Lands, Housing and Survey is giving FTE title holders until the end of this month to pay up or face forfeiture.

The commissioner of lands has the right under law under various circumstances to forfeit any land under his title.

"As such Fixed Term Estate (FTE) title holders in Honiara and those in the provinces are given 30 days from November 1 to the 30th to pay up," Mr Dunge warned.

The commissioner can give certain period to FTE landowners and or those who do not pay up their land rental dues can also face forfeiture and their properties removed.

Mr Dunge said if those with land rental arrears fail to pay up by the end of this month, they will be notified and forfeiture will follow.

"Under their agreement with Lands, these FTE title holders were supposed to pay up on January every year.

"It was clearly stipulated in the agreement that they should pay up without any demand or notification from the government. We do not have to remind them, they should just pay up, but it seems otherwise."

He warned that he will not be lenient with people who fail to comply.The land rental charge is only $100 to $200 per year.

Source: Press Release, Government Communications Unit

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